Ski rope retracting mechanism



March 1962 A. M. HOLLOWAY SKI ROPE RETRACTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1960 INVENTOR.

-wlllllllllll n I I ARTHUR M. HOLLOWAY BY I ATTORNEY March 27, 1962 A. M. HOLLOWAY 3,027,116

SKI ROPE RETRACTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. A RTH U R M. HOLLOWAY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice d hzzllh Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,627,116 SKI ROPE RETRACTING MECHANISM Arthur Martin Holloway, General Delivery, Hackett, Ark. Filed Sept. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 59,082 5 Claims. (Cl. 242-865) This invention relates to a ski rope retracting mechanism. More particularly, the invention relates to a device adaptable for positioning on a boat wherein ski ropes used to pull water skiers may be retracted either simultaneously or individually.

Water skiing has become a popular recreation. The usual means of pulling a water skier over the surface of the water is to fix a rope to the rear of a boat. A handle is provided at the end of the rope to which the skier holds as he is pulled over the water. With the advent of larger outboard motors providing power amply capable of pulling more than one skier, it has become popular for two skiers to ski at the same time behind a boat. Usually two separate ropes are afiixed to the boat and extend behind the boat and the skiers hold the ropes as they are pulled over the water.

One difficulty which is encountered in pulling two skiers behind the same boat is that after the skiers turn loose of the rope, either because they are quitting skiing or because they fall, the ski ropes will frequently become entangled. The ropes are difficult to pull back into the boat while the boat is moving. If the boat is stopped before the ski ropes are retracted they frequently become intwined around the boat propeller which will not only cut and damage the rope but many times winds around the propeller so that it binds the propeller and may damage the motor.

Another particularly diflicult aspect of pulling skiers is that without some means of retracting the ropes when the skiers turn loose of the handle, it is very difiicult for a single individual to operate the boat. For this reason it is virtually imperative under present methods that a boat pulling skiers have not only a driver but a helper with him.

7 An object of this invention is to provide an automatic means for retracting ski ropes which will prevent the ropes becoming intwined and entangled.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the driver alone can not only drive the boat which pulls the skiers but may also control the ski ropes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby two ski ropes are affixed to a boat and wherein the ski ropes may be retracted either individually or conjointly.

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, shown primarily in cross-section, of the mechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the mechanism of the invention positioned near the transom of the boat.

FIGURE 3 is a pictorial view of the application of the invention as applied to a boat for pulling skiers.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1 the basic elements of the device are shown in an exploded cross-sectional arrangement. Two reels, indicated by the numerals 10A and 10B, are adaptable for receiving and winding separate ski ropes. Reels 10A and 10B are su ported on bushings 12A and 12B so that they can rotate with respect to shafts 14A and 14B. Shafts 14A and 14B areafiixed to cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B, as by welding. Cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B are supported by support housings 18A and 18B. Support housings 18A and 18B also include bushings 20A and 203 so that cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B and solid shafts 14A and 14B are free to rotate. Supports 22A and 22B rotatably support cylindrical shafts 16A and 1613 to the boat to which the mechanism is affixed in a manner which will be described subsequently.

Positioned within cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B is a central solid shaft 24. Solid shaft 24 may be moved into or out of cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B whereby the total distance between reel 10A and 19B can be varied to suit the width of the boat on which the device is affixed. A clamp 26A is firmly fixed to cylindrical shaft 16A and a similar clamp 26B is afiixed to cylindrical shaft 163. Each of clamps 26A and 26B is adaptable to receive central shaft 24. Set screws 28A and 28B are provided whereby clamps 26A and 26B may be firmly secured to central shaft 24. With set screws 23A and 28B firmly set an integral extended shaft is formed composed of solid shaft 14A, cylindrical shaft 16A, central shaft 24, cylindrical shaft 16B and solid shaft MB.

A gear reduction device 30 is supported to cylindrical shaft 16A and is held in an immovable position relative to support 22A by a bracket 32. Gear reduction device 30 contains a spur gear 34, which is afiixed to cylindrical shaft 16A, and a worm gear 36 which engages spur gear 34 and is driven by an electric motor 38. When electric motor 38 is energized, cylindrical shaft 16A is rotated which in turn, through clamp 26A, rotates central shaft 24 and which also in turn, through clamp 26B, rotates cylindrical shaft 16B.

Aifixed to solid shaft 14A is a bearing surface plate 40A. In like manner bearing surface plate 40B is alfixed to solid shaft 14B. Rotatably supported on solid shaft 14A and positioned between bearing surface plate MA and reel 10A is a thrust washer 42A. Thrust washer 42B is in like manner positioned between bearing surface plate 40B and reel 10B. Formed on the inner surface of reel 10A is a machined surface 44A and a counter part on reel 10B is machined surface 448. Machined surfaces 44A and 44B are disposed to engage thrust washers 42A and 42B so that rotary motion is imparted to reels 10A and 10B when shafts 14A and 14B are turned.

Disposed on the shafts 14A and 14B and exterior of reels 10A and 10B are a rotatably positioned clutch disc 46A and disc 46B, rotatably positioned pressure plates 48A and 48B, springs 50A and 50B, clutch adjusting plates 52A and 52B which threadably engage shafts 14A and 14B respectively, and pal nuts 54A and 548 which also threadably engage solid shafts 14A and 14B.

Exterior machined surfaces 56A and 56B are formed on reels 10A and 1GB and are engaged by clutch discs 46A and 46B in the same manner that thrust washers 42A and 42B engage interior machined surfaces 44A and 44B.

Springs 50A and 50B have angularly positioned integrally formed ends 58 which engage clutch adjusting plates 52A and 52B and pressure plates 43A and 48B. Clutch adjusting plates 52A and 528 being threadably positioned on solid shafts 14A and 1413, may be screwed inwardly or outwardly so that the pressure exerted on clutch discs 46A and 46B by pressure plates 48A and 48B, may be adjusted. The compression exerted by springs 50A and 50B also serves to place pressure between machined surfaces MA and 44B and thrust washers 42A and 42B and against bearing surface plates 40A and 40B. By adjusting the compression on springs 50A and 5013 the amount of frictional relationship between the rotation of shafts 14A and 14B and reels 10A and 10B is adjusted. When the pressure plates 48A and 488 have been properly adjusted they are held in a secure position by pal nuts 54A and 54B which are forced into contiguous relationship so that clutch adjusting plates 52A and 52B remain in a uniform position rela tive to shafts 14A and 14B.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 the position of the mechanism of the invention relative to a boat to which it is mounted is shown. FIGURE 1 is an exploded view and therefore some of the elements are shown in proportionally larger sizes than are actually used in practice. Therefore, the composite view of FIGURE 2 does not show the pal nuts 54A and 54B, clutch adjusting plates 52A and 52B, springs 50A and 59B and pressure plates 48A and 48B, clutch discs 46A and 46B, thrust washers 42A and 42B and bearing surface plates 40A and 40B since these are all under the flanged sides 60 of reels 19A and B.

The mechanismof the invention is most ideally positioned near the transom 62 of boat 64. Clamps 26A and 26B are adjusted for proper width for boat 64 so that ski ropes 66A and 66B can trail directly from the reels WA and 1&3 through holes 68A and 63 3 in the boat transom 62.

Supports 22A and 2213 may extend either to the floor of boat 64 or against the transom 62, or most desirably, may be supported both against the floor and the transom 62. Boat 64 is shown in FIGURE 2 as an outboard rnotor boat having an outboard motor 70 supported to the transom 62.

Ski ropes 66A and 66B have afiixed at the ends handles 72A and 723 which are used for the skiers to hold to as they are pulled over the water. Ski ropes 66A and 66B are shown in FIGURE 2 as they are primarily completely rewound onto reels 10A and 10B.

Referring to FIGURE 3 the application of the device is best disclosed. Boat 64 is shown to be an inboard boat, however, the principles of the invention apply equally as well to outboard motor boats as shown in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 3 shows the application of the device wherein the ski ropes 66A and 66B are fully extended to pull skiers 74A and 74B. The driver 78 of the boat may retract the ski ropes 66A and 66B, in the manner which will be described later, by turning on switch 80, energizing electric motor 38.

Operation When boat 64 is not being used to pull skiers, ski ropes 66A and 663 will be retracted and wound on reels 16A and 10B so that handles 72A and 72B are pulled in close to boat transom 62. In this position the boat can be used for its ordinary service and the ski ropes 66A and 66B and handles 72A and 72B are safely secured to the boat and will not be in danger of entangling in the propeller of the boat.

When it is desired to pull one skier, the skier takes hold of one of the ski rope handles, for instance number 72A, and as the boat pulls slowly away from him the ski rope 66A is unwound from ski reel 10A. The unwinding is accomplished by the rotation of reel 10A, it being necessary only to overcome the friction exerted by clutch disc 46A and thrust washer 42A. Tension of spring 50A is adjusted so that handle 72A will remain near the transom 62 of the boat when the ski rope is not being used but can be easily unwound by the pull of a skier in the water.

When ski rope 72A has been fully extended boat 64 may be accelerated, pulling the skier to the top of the water. When the skier either falls in his skiing process or quits skiing, ski rope 66A can be easily retracted after the boat 64 has stopped by the driver 78 turning on switch 80, energizing motor 38. This rotates shaft 16A, shaft 24 and shaft 16B. The frictional rotary motion exerted by thrust washer 42A and clutch disc 46A will cause reel 10A to rotate, winding ski rope 66A and pulling in handle 72A near the transom 62 of boat 64. When switch Stl is energized, energizing motor 38, shaft 16B and solid shaft 143 will also rotate. This will apply rotary energy to reel 19B but since ski rope 663 has not been extended and since handle 72B is pulled against transom 62, reel 1013 will not turn but will be held in a non-rotating position by ski rope 66B.

When ski rope 66A is wound completely on reel 1iiA, even if the driver '78 continues to hold switch in an energized position, no damage whatsoever will be done to any of the mechanism. Shafts 16A, 24 and 16h will continue to rotate and each reel 19A and 10B Wlll remain in a non-rotating position.

If two skiers 74A and 74B desire to ski, each one pulls out one of the ski ropes 66A and 663. This may be accomplished by the skiers merely taking hold of the handles 72A and 72B and letting the boat proceed slowly away from them so that the ski ropes 66A and 66B are pulled off reels 10A and 10B by frictional slippage of the reels. When the ski ropes 66A and 66B are fully ex tended the boat 64 is accelerated, raising both skiers to the surface. If one of the skiers falls or becomes weary, boat 64 may be stopped and the ski rope he was holding may be retracted without retracting the ski rope the reremaining skier is holding. If both skiers decide to quit at the same time, then both ski ropes 66A and 663 may be easily retracted simultaneously. I

In can be seen that the mechanism of the invention adapts itself to either retracting one or both of the ski ropes 66A and 66B by merely energizing switch S0.

A great difiiculty encountered by skiers is that when ski ropes are affixed to the boat without a means of auto matically retracting them, they frequently become en tangled in the propeller. If each ski rope must be hauled in manually they become entangled within the boat or if two ski ropes are used the ski ropes become entwined around each other. By the process of this invention the driver 78 maintains complete control over the ski ropes 66A and 668 at all times without leaving his position at the steering wheel of the boat.

Clamps 26A and 26B permit the mechanism to be positioned to fit a wide variety of sizes of boats having different spacings between holes 63A and 68B. In some boats it will be desirable, rather than provide holes 68A and 68B, to permit the ski ropes 66A and 663 to ride over the top of transom 62,.

Although this invention has been described in a cer'- tain degree of particularity it is manifested that many changes may be made in the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For instance, many alternate arrangements will be suggested of means of providing frictional engagement between reels 10A and 10B and shafts 14A, 24 and 1413.

The details of construction and the example of the application of the mechanism of this invention is given by way of example and not by way of limitation.

I claim:

1. A device for retracting a pair of ski ropes adaptable for positioning on a boat comprising, a first cylindrical shaft rotatably supported to said boat; a first reel rotatably supported to said first cylindrical shaft adapted to windably receive the first of said ski ropes; a second cylindrical shaft rotatably supported to said boat; a sec ond reel rotatably supported to said second cylindrical shaft adapted to windably receive the second of said ski ropes; an adjusting shaft adaptable to be received by said first and second cylindrical shafts; first and second clamp means affixed to said first and second cylindrical shafts adaptable to engage said adjusting shaft whereby said first and second cylindrical shafts are aligned and secured in a fixed relationship with each other and wherein the distance between said reels may be adjusted for optimum positioning in said boat; an electric motor; gear means transmitting rotary energy from said electric motor to one of said cylindrical shafts and through said adjusting shaft to other of said cylindrical shafts; adjustable friction means between said first cylindrical shaft and said first reel; adjustable friction means between said second cylindrical shaft and said second reel; and a switch means in electrical connection with said electric motor adaptable to energize said electric motor whereby said shafts are rotated applying frictional rotary energy to said first and second reels to windably retract said ski ropes.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second shafts are hollow and wherein said adjusting shaft is solid and wherein said first and second clamp means are atfixed to said solid adjusting shaft.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable friction means between said first shaft and said first reel includes a bearing surface plate secured to said first shaft; a thrust Washer rotatably positioned on said shaft between said bearing surface plate and one side of said first reel; a clutch disc rotatably positioned on said shaft adjacent other side of said reel; a pressure plate supported on said shaft adaptable to engage said clutch disc; pressure adjusting means afiixed to said first cylindrical shaft adaptable to exert pressure contact between said first reel, said clutch disc and said thrust washer; and duplicate elements associated in the same arrangement with said second reel and said second cylindrical shaft.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said pressure adjusting means affixed to said first cylindrical shaft adaptable to exert pressure contact between said first reel, said clutch disc and said thrust washer, includes a clutch adjusting plate threadably afiixed to said first cylindrical shaft; a coiled spring positioned around said shaft and between said pressure plate and said clutch adjusting plate whereby said clutch adjusting plate may be threadably advanced on said first cylindrical shaft to apply increased pressure on said pressure plate; and means of retaining said clutch adjusting plate to a fixed position relative to said shaft.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said means of retaining said clutch adjusting plate in a fixed position relative to said shaft includes a pal nut threadably positioned on said shaft whereby said pal nut may be threadably advanced to engage said clutch adjusting plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,683 Worth Oct. 25, 1881 817,248 Jacox Apr. 10, 1906 2,765,991 Frey et a1. Oct. 9, 1956 2,816,310 Nale Dec. 17, 1957 

